New York Salon Reopens with Long Waiting List

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A salon in New York has reopened with an extreme waiting list. Julien Farel Restore Salon Spa & Fitness, a luxurious 10,000-square-foot salon inside the Loews Regency New York Hotel, has over 1,000 people on its waiting list. The salon charges $1,000 for a haircut and has no plans to lower this price despite the pandemic. Owner Julien Farel is confident that their clientele, with celebrities like actress Katie Holmes and athlete Rafael Nadal, will be willing to pay the price. Following the New York government’s announcement that nonessential businesses could resume operations, the salon reopened last June. To reduce its capacity, the salon has only brought back 50 out of its 150 employees. Suelyn Farel, Julien’s wife and the salon’s business manager, also made sure that other precautionary measures are in place, such as requiring customers to wear a mask, doing temperature checks, and maintaining strict sanitation procedures. Employees are also required to wear protective equipment, such as face shields and gloves. To ensure that customers follow social distancing while waiting, the couch in the waiting room has been replaced with individual chairs. According to Suelyn, the salon has managed to pay its rent since it temporarily closed down, but she forecasted that the salon’s revenue might decrease by a third this year. Despite the salon’s temporary closure during the quarantine, Julien still managed to earn income by making house calls for services like haircuts and styling that cost twice his usual salon rate. He went around the city on a scooter with his tools and protective equipment. Julien said that most of his clients requested to have their hair done in outdoor spaces instead of inside their homes. He also explained that his clients often have online meetings and TV appearances and really appreciated that he could provide house calls.